Combined wire-tightener and staple-puller



No. 616,787. Pafented Dec. 27, I898. M. w. eurm. COMBINED WIRE TIGHTENERAND STAPLE FULLER.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

MOSES IV. GUNN, OF LA SALLE, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED WIRE-TIGHTENER AND STAPLE-PULLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,787, dated December27, 1898.

Application filed August 5, 1898. Serial No. 687,804. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOSES WV; GUNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Salle, in the county of La Sallc, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements'in a CombinedVVire-Tightener and Staple-Puller; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to wire-tighteners in general, and moreparticularly to that class intended for tightening wires in wirefencing, the object of my invention being to provide a cheap and simpledevice with which the wires may be tightened by manipulationintermediate the posts or at the posts in an easy manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide a supplemental handlewhich will have the twofold function of pulling staples and assisting inthe operation of the device when tightening wires.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification and in whichlike letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete device and showing it inposition upon awire to be tightened, the staple-puller being in placefor assisting in the operation of tightening. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the star-wheel of my implement. Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 1, showing the operation of my device when the star-wheel isomitted.

Referring now to the drawings, in operating in accordance with myinvention I form a hub a, which is substantially elliptical incross-section, as shown, which said hub is bifurcated at its forward endto form two legs 17 and c. The hub a is formed hollow to securelightness, and longitudinally of the exterior surface of each leg isformed a groove 01 and e, for a purpose which will be presentlyexplained.

Formed integral with the hub CL and extending from the base thereof atright angles thereto is a crank 'fihaving a handle g for manipulation.

A perforation is formed through the hub a laterally, as shown at g, toadmit a rod h, which rod is extended in an opposite direction from thecrankf for a purpose as will be hereinafter explained.

A star-wheel 2', having a rib 7o on its rear face, is secured to theouter end of the hub a by passing said rib between the legs I) and c, apin I being passed through registering perforations in the legs and ribto hold the wheel in place.

The operation of my invention in this form is as follows: The star-wheeli being removed,

the hub to is manipulated to receive a wire m between the legs I) and c,after which the wheel 2' is replaced and secured in position by means ofthe pin Z. By grasping the han dle g with one hand and the rod h withthe other the hub is then revolved until the required tension of thewire is secured. The

tool is then turned backwardly two points of the wheel '5, and theopposite spurs of the wheel are caused to engage the wire on oppositesides of the hub. By continuing to revolve the implement the wires arecrossed in front of the wheel 1', as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bend ofone wire across the other then enables the operator to hold the wiretaut while he severs the wire at the back of the wheel and wraps onesevered end around one of the wires and the other end aroundthe oppositewire, when the operation may be repeated at another place.

When desired, the tool may be used without the use of the star-wheel i,in which event the hub is engaged with the wire to be tightened in themanner first described. By revolving the hub the wire is wound upon thehub until sufficient slack has been taken up, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. If the operation is at a post, a staple may then be placedover the convolutions at each side of the hub by running one leg of thestaple through a groove in the leg I) and subsequently one leg of astaple through the groove in leg 0'. IVith a hammerthe staple may thenbe driven into the post to hold the convolutions and prevent themslipping.

If the operation has been intermediate the posts, a wire, as shown at aand 0, may be slipped through the grooves in the legs I) and c and thenwrapped together to hold the convoluti'ons against unwinding.

It willbe noted upon reference to Fig. l of the drawings that one end ofthe rod his formed as an arrow-head, which enables the rod when removedfrom the hub a to be inserted beneath a staple for removal of thelatter.

It will be readily understood that I may vary the specific constructionand arrangement herein shown and described without departing from thespirit of my invention.

It will also be appreciated that, if desired, the hub of the tool may beformed solid instead of hollow, and also that the twisting of the endsof the wire around the body thereof after cutting behind the star-wheelmay be accomplished in any desired manner, pliers being used when wishedin order to insure against slipping.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. A wire-stretchercomprising a hub having a bifurcated end resulting in legs, groovesformed longitudinally of'the legs throughout their lengths and onopposite sides thereof and means for revolving the hub.

2. A wire-stretcher comprising a hub having a bifurcated end resultingin the forma' tion of legs, grooves running longitudinally of the legsthroughout their lengths, a crank extending from the base of the hub atright angles thereto, a perforation through the hub, and a rod passedthrough the perforation, said rod being adapted when removed to bepassed beneath a staple.

3. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a hub having a bifurcatedextremity, a starwheel attached to the hub, grooves on opposite sides ofthe hub and means for revolving the hub.

4. The combination of a hub having a bifurcated extremity, a star-wheelhaving a rib entering the slot of the bifurcation, a pin passed throughthe hub and rib to hold the star-Wheel in place, grooves formed in thesides of the hub, longitudinally thereof, and means for revolving thehub.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES WV. GUNN. lVitn esses:

NICHOLAS W. DUNCAN, JAMES VOUGHTEN.

